Life, 1916-03-16 · page 28 of 44
Life — March 16, 1916 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** An illustration of two parrots on a perch satirizes calls for national "discussion" about military preparedness. The text argues that pacifists like William Jennings Bryan and Oswald Garrison Villard should publicly debate armament advocates (Stimson, Root, Taft, Spooner) to stir public engagement. The parrot imagery suggests this manufactured debate is mere repetitive squawking rather than substantive discourse. **Bottom Cartoon:** A doctor promotes "Anthrax" as a medical fad, claiming it's "the biggest thing since appendicitis." Two men in top hats (likely politicians or businessmen) celebrate its "success." This satirizes how serious issues—here, disease—become trendy talking points divorced from genuine concern, mirroring the top cartoon's critique of performative political debate. **Hindu Proverbs section:** Cynical aphorisms about power, corruption, and inequality serve as sardonic commentary on American society. The page's overall message: public discourse about armament is superficial theater, not serious policy deliberation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Let Us All Talk It All Over! I order to get the country duly het up for armament there must be dis- cussion, In order that there may be discussion somebody must take the pacifist end. This must be evident to our pacifist fellow citizens, and no doubt they will better themselves. Mr. Bryan is billed for some ap- pearances, Mr. Villard also would get out on the road. If these Hindu Proverbs HE Law I do not fear; My Son's Policeman here. Shine, Firefly! Through leafy bars, But do not vie With Heaven's Stars. As faithful as the Knee-joint to its Socket, The Lawyer's Hand keeps in Neighbor’s Pocket. his Not a Penny to her name,— Runs to Market, just the same. Arthur Guiterman, pacifist brethren seem to be accom- plishing anything it will stir up others on the other side—Mr. Stimson and Mr Root, perhaps—and the voters will begin to be reached. Mr. Spooner can make a speech, and has good ideas, Mr. Taft can make any quantity of speeches. There are hundreds of others, and we should like to hear from them all every day. Mr. Scott Near- ing is a public speaker and believes in unpreparedness: room on the plat- form for Dr. Nearing! Can Editor Max Eastman make a speech? Surely the audience will be glad to hear from Mr. Eastman, even though he diverts to his troubles with Ward and Gow. In order to prepare, the country must first warm up. He that hath a voice let him use it now. BE SURE AND HAVE ANTHRAX “WWSTANT PoPuLARsTy* “mr oF i THE Season” ‘SWOULD Mave j LONG Ru” “suCCESS? WHY, DOCTOR, IT'S THE BIGGEST THING SINCE ‘ APPENDICITIS’” comicbooks.com